After releasing his debut single Who’s Sain and video late last year, the 22-year-old is launching his new single, 1990, on Tuesday and putting the finishing touches to the video, developed with Abu Dhabi’s TwoFour54 Creative Lab. He spoke to Soundbites about music and why he’s going back in time.

Q: Remind us quickly about your step into music?

A: To get my message out there because there is abundant talent in the UAE and local talent should one day become global talent. I do it for everyone around here and I keep it positive so that everyone can relate to it.

Q: What’s happened since we spoke last? Any defining moments?

A: We were pretty much on the planning phases when we last spoke but I did a couple of shows here and there. One of them was with Abd Al Malek, an award-winning French rapper. It was a pleasure performing at the same night as him at Allure on Yas Island, Abu dhabi. I’ve also worked on a track based on the ’90s and we’re now shooting its video.

Q: Tell us about the music video. Why was it important to shoot in the UAE?

A: The video is based on a lot of things that were here back in the ‘90s. I basically wanted to dedicate this to all the ’90s babies and the ones who lived through those moments while at the same time a little of it is a bio on my life. I feel like it’s important in the UAE because we put together shots of places that people used to be around back then. I even mentioned some memorable moments that we had here as a nation that most of us will remember.

Q: Who came up with the script for the video?

A: Ade, my manager, came up with the script that was based on the lyrics that I put down for the track. He then brought in Umesh, a member of the Content Cartel creative company, to write the treatment.

Q: Has your focus changed when it comes to music?

A: My focus was always on what I want to achieve. Ambition is forever burning, and it’s always been my aim to finally be what I want to become. My focus is to be the first to break through the international music scene from the Middle East.

Q: An international star told you your music “wasn’t you”, how have you changed that and was it hard?

A: Yes, I have made a lot of changes here and there. It’s hard to please everyone, but I have always made music that came from the heart. I have middle aged women rapping along to “Who’s Sain”, and the song was not aimed at them at all. If someone does not know me, they might have a different opinion about my music but when you walk down the street in Rashidiya, you’ll understand where I’m coming from.

Q: Any more advice from anyone famous?

A: Abd Al Malek asked me to keep doing what I’m doing. He asked me to hold on to the dream that I have and that’s exactly what I’ll keep on doing. He was very supportive. He chose to work with me from all the other Emirati acts that was presented to him and that is my motive to continue right there.

Q: Do your parents support you?

A: My parents have always supported me in what I’m doing, and I am grateful to have that.

Q: What’s the overall dream/goal/aim?

A: I want to give us [ Middle East] a voice. We need the world to understand us more because a lot of what we are really about is being pictured in the wrong way. All eyes everywhere are on the Middle East right now, and if we use this time wisely to our advantage at a positive level we can all bring out greatness for the world to understand us better.